Manchester United

[muckypups]

I don't know Mig.. I hope all is well with Red. On checking his profile page he hasn't been on-line since April 10... We miss him..

[muckypups]

More on the match tonight; The Independent:

Attack is the only form of defence for us, says Ferguson

A legacy versus a future is how Sir Alex Ferguson romantically billed a Champions League semi-final he believes is too close to call between Manchester United and Milan, though a more mundane problem with the present illustrates the size of his task at an expectant Old Trafford tonight. United drilled seven goals past Italian opposition in their last European encounter; now they will be lucky to find seven men to fill their bench.

Reprieved in their pursuit of the Premiership at the weekend, there will be another significant escape for United's treble aspirations this evening should a makeshift backline, which contains not one of Ferguson's first-choice defenders, provide the platform for victory and the clean sheet the manager craves ahead of next week's second leg at San Siro.

Without Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and, according to Ferguson, Patrice Evra, the United manager yesterday concurred with the view that his comparatively youthful - and healthy - attack represents the finest form of defence against Carlo Ancelotti's experienced team, but there was a warning to those expecting Milan's ageing defence to creak in tandem with their limbs as Wayne Rooney and the newly crowned PFA Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo seek to confirm their development against the club who contained them so comfortably in this competition two years ago.

Milan's average age will be 30 at Old Trafford should Ancelotti omit 36-year-old Brazilian World Cup winner Cafu and Alessandro Costacurta, 41 today, from the meanest defence left in this season's Champions League. That statistic, combined with two previous semi-final defeats to the Rossoneri and a eulogy to 38-year-old Paolo Maldini, ensured a healthy respect from Ferguson for opponents who have triumphed in nine of their 11 semi-final appearances in this competition, a marked contrast to United's record of two victories in eight.

"Look at Maldini, what he does is an art and you cannot deny that kind of experience," cautioned the United manager. "The experience of Milan is that they have to be at the top all the time. There is no way a club of that size would carry Maldini at the age of 38 just because of his past. He has been one of my favourite players in Europe for the last 15 years. I watched him in the last round at Bayern Munich where he played for 90 minutes and did not tackle anyone. He has mastered the art of that.

"Milan are a well-run club and very professional. I look at my team and think I would like more experience in there in certain situations, but then they give encouragement for the future and they excite people. Maldini leaves a legacy, Rooney and Ronaldo give you a future, so it is difficult to say what is better at this moment in time.

"You cannot ignore the abilities of the Milan players. We have prepared our players for that. People will expect us to have a go at them and, hopefully, that will give us a real chance. The name of this game is to win and not concede a goal. That's the hope, our plan, but it will not be easy."

Along with Maldini, the veteran of 103 Champions League ties for Milan, who Ferguson claimed would not be in direct opposition with Ronaldo tonight as he attempted to confuse his Italian opponents, the United manager also highlighted two contrasting characters who have forged a fine understanding in the Rossoneri midfield and have both been the target of Old Trafford transfers - the former Glasgow Rangers pit-bull Gennaro Gattuso and the stylish Andrea Pirlo.

"Gattuso is a player we have always admired," admitted Ferguson. "He's got a Glaswegian narkiness about him, he could start a row in an empty house like a typical Glaswegian and he's even got a Glasgow accent, but he's an excellent footballer who has matured a lot in the last two or three years with Milan. He has honed his skills and then you have Pirlo, a fantastic footballer. We know his quality."

While Ferguson talked up the qualities of a team who were allowed into this season's Champions League only on appeal, having been expelled following the match-fixing scandal in Italy last summer, the Scot played down suggestions that his prospects of a second European Cup final outing have been seriously undermined by a defensive injury crisis.

The French full-back Evra was scheduled to return for the first leg and, although he took part in light training, Ferguson claimed that he would make the substitutes' bench at best. With Park Ji Sung , Mikaël Silvestre, the promising young defender Craig Cathcart and Louis Saha also among the absentees, plus a plethora of reserves out on loan, the United squad will contain several unfamiliar faces for a game of such magnitude.

Ferguson insisted: "The good thing is the important players are available. The problem we'll have is an inadequate bench, although it is inevitable you miss players like Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Louis Saha in big games.

"Since Wes [brown] has taken over from Nemanja Vidic he has been very, very good. He is a natural defender and the big-game occasion helps him, so I'm sure he will be OK."

Ronaldo, Evra, Paul Scholes and Gabriel Heinze are all one booking away from suspension in the Champions League, but despite the added complications and accusations from the Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, that referees are favouring United in terms of crucial penalty decisions - "I've looked at Saturday's incident again and John O'Shea got the ball, absolutely no question about that," was all Ferguson would say on that subject - the Old Trafford manager believes the stunning quarter-final victory over Roma will serve to inspire his depleted forces tonight.

"It is difficult to think we can get another standard of result like we got against Roma, that was a once- in-a-lifetime result, but we do expect another very good performance," Ferguson said.

"The performance in the last round must give the players a lot of confidence. With the players we have at this club that is always the expectation and there is a desire within the players to do that because of the opposition and the occasion, but it is not going to be easy."

"Ronaldo, Evra, Paul Scholes and Gabriel Heinze are all one booking away from suspension in the Champions League"

Worrying...

[Mossfinn]

O.K, O.K Red and Muckypups, I wish United well tonight

If only so the best Reds in Town can beat them in the final

Good Luck

Moss

[muckypups]

Thanks Moss.. it'll be our pleasure to beat..er meet you in the final..

[blacklabel]

Man U 1- 0

[muckypups]

Half-Time, 1-2

I had a bad feeling about this match and I hope we're not going to be embarrassed. Milan are at full strength and playing very well. Their defence is top class while our makeshift defence is (inevitably) all over the place. I think they'll score again..

[muckypups]

I don't know what Fergie said at half-time but it certainly worked.. (the Maldini and Gattuso injuries were handy too) a great second half performance, and I do think we'll score in Italy.. Fletcher had a great game and Heinze was outstanding. What a turnaround.. well played lads..

[nev]

yes fine result muckey i can see us scoring over there for sure.

a wins a win we should have players back all to play for now,the winner will come from this game.

now over too chelsea and liverpool to bore us to death.

[muckypups]

now over too chelsea and liverpool to bore us to death.

Exactly Nev..

I was gutted at half time cursing our miserable fortune in losing nearly all our first choice defence.. but it was a great game and we came through.. I know it's not the perfect result.. (Evra suspended too) but I'm certain we'll score in Milan..

Come on you Reds....

[blacklabel]

nice result for the devils to bring to san siro hope tat they will score first and get thier away goal in italy.......cheers

Hopefully it will be an all english and red final...

[ThaiPauly]

Nice one guys.

Just hope you defend well over there..its gonna be very tough....but dooable

You are gonna need 11 defenders I reckon!

GOOD LUCK.....the treble is still on

[nev]

thanks guys we rode our luck at times but we probally just edged it in the end.

[muckypups]

Good on you guys, thanks for the good wishes.. I can't help feeling that such a recovery has an air of destiny about it.. but perhaps I'm just misty eyed after 3 hours sleep..

The majority of the press seem to think that United will score in Milan.. we've done it before in Italy.. 1999 we gave Juventus a 2 goal start...and beat them 3-2...

The Independent:

For an hour it was shaping up to be Cristiano Ronaldo against Kaka for a place in the Champions League final - one straight duel between the Portuguese dribble king and the brilliant Brazilian playmaker. But that was before one rampaging Englishman scored the winning goal, turned this tie on its head and reminded the football world that Wayne Rooney will not languish in the shadows for long.

What a way to steal the show. There were two Rooney goals in the second half - including an injury-time winner - as the lead changed hands as often as a new hero emerged. From Ronaldo's explosive start to Kaka's two sumptuous goals and then finally on to Rooney, this was a tie that was illuminated by individual talents. A tie which could yet go either way in the San Siro next Wednesday. United's slender lead is perilous, the form of Rooney invaluable.

From triumph to despair and back again, this was a match that takes its place among the canon of Old Trafford European classics. From 2-1 down to 3-2 winners at the death, United might have been naive in defence but they were unrelenting in attack. And short of prising Ronaldo's fingers one-by-one from his two PFA player of the year trophies, Rooney could not have done a better job at ambushing his team-mate in the limelight.

This was Rooney at his very best, marauding through the Milan defence and scoring goals when it mattered most on a night when he could so easily have slipped into anonymity. Ronaldo dazzled but for all those whose football world does not extend much beyond the Premiership there was a reminder of the astonishing talent of Kaka - a player who seems to have as much claim on that nebulous title of the very best in the world as the United winger.

As for Rooney, he left it late to make his case. He was consigned to be the lone striker for long periods of this match, a role that does not seem to suit his game or his temperament, as England discovered at the World Cup. And just as he seemed destined to be a footnote to this extraordinary night he emerged as the decisive factor. The lead he gives United will be fragile in the San Siro, but Sir Alex Ferguson says that he now feels that his side have the edge over Milan.

For this Italian team, that old paranoia about an English team that refuses to die resurfaced. Just as Liverpool came back in Istanbul two years ago, so it seems that Milan will not send United quietly into the night. Without Rino Gattuso in the second half, Milan faltered badly and, at times, seemed gripped by the fear that they might throw it all away again.

There was a bomb scare in the area around the Old Trafford changing rooms an hour after the game had ended, although it is the anxiety over injuries and suspensions that is taking its toll on United. Patrice Evra was booked last night and is suspended for next Wednesday's game while Gabriel Heinze proved himself erratic - with the occasional moment of brilliance - at centre-back. It makes Nemanja Vidic's potential early return for the return leg all the more crucial.

Watched by a Glazer brothers' contingent, United were exceptional in the opening stages. Ferguson spoke in his programme notes about the nirvana of that 7-1 victory over Roma, a performance, he said, comes about "half a dozen" times in a lifetime. Fifteen minutes gone and he might have felt like amending that figure to seven.

Ronaldo was an unstoppable force, impossible for Milan to locate and collecting possession in the centre and on both wings. Only five minutes had elapsed when Darren Fletcher dinked a ball to Rooney whose volleyed shot was deflected wide by Alessandro Nesta. From Ryan Giggs' corner, Ronaldo's header was flicked upwards by Dida who then scrabbled the ball into the net. It was not a beautiful goal but the urgent, imaginative start that United had made threatened many more.

In those opening 15 minutes, Milan looked like they were there for the taking. Bewildered by Ronaldo, disbelieving that they could suffer the same fate as Roma, they were then granted a stay of execution. On 14 minutes, Fletcher spread a smart ball right to Giggs and his cross picked out Michael Carrick. The shot was drilled into the ground, taking enough pace off it for Dida to save.

Thrilling though Ronaldo had been, a rival for his mastery was emerging at the other end of the field. A through-ball from Clarence Seedorf on 22 minutes and Kaka was off and running, gliding into the penalty area, the possibility of a meaningful tackle receding with every stride. Heinze tried a woefully late one but Kaka had long since angled his shot past Edwin van der Sar and into the far corner.

Ronaldo took the game back to Milan, Kaka trumped him again. His second goal came from a long kick from Dida in the 37th minute that he chased down the left channel with Heinze. A header and flick later and Kaka had looped the ball away from the Argentine who compounded his mistake by crashing into Evra. In the meantime, Kaka tucked his second goal away.

At half-time it looked hopeless for United, even more so when Carrick missed a glorious back-post chance from a Giggs' corner three minutes after the break. On the hour they seized their moment. Carrick threaded the ball through to Scholes, he scooped the ball to Rooney and the striker bustled through before unleashing a shot that Dida could parry but not prevent from rolling in.

The chase was on. Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, even Fletcher, who had one of his better games, orchestrated the midfield. Then in the closing stages, Giggs broke forward down the right and played a ball to Rooney in the inside-right channel. He struck it outside the area and beat Dida at his near post. The final flourish of the night was his which, given the competition, was some achievement. Cast in Ronaldo's shadow this season, Rooney is picking some moment to step into the light.

[muckypups]

I promised myself I wouldn't go into to copy and paste mode like I did after the 7-1..but this is an excellent article from The Telegraph:

Rooney brilliance keeps United alive

By Henry Winter

Manchester United (1) 3 AC Milan (2) 2

Manchester United just never give up. Just when AC Milan were beginning to savour Kaka’s brace of away goals, letting their minds drift to a straightforward-looking return at San Siro next week and perhaps even the final in Athens itself, Wayne Rooney wiped the smiles off their famous faces.

One would have thought the Italians would know a little bit about English resilience by now. Just as Liverpool’s refusal to surrender stunned Kaka and company in Istanbul two years ago, so a forward raised on the streets of Croxteth embarrassed the lords of Lombardy here.

Thirty seconds into stoppage time, with Milan hugely satisfied with their night’s work, Rooney ripped up the script. Just when United did not have a second leg to stand on properly, Rooney gave them balance and hope. It is these moments that make Rooney so special, so popular with team-mates, with fans and all others who admire those maestros prepared to sweat ceaselessly for the cause. With the tie tipped in Milan’s favour, Rooney kept running, kept gambling that the right ball would come.

Milan paid for listening for the referee’s final whistle, not the on-rushingfoot-steps of Rooney. What a difference one second makes. Just one touch. Just one moment of magic from the England striker as he raced on to Ryan Giggs’ clever pass. Alessandro Nesta threw himself across, the centre-half belatedly realising Rooney’s murderous intent. Too late. The connection was made. Struck hard and fast first time, Rooney’s shot sped past Dida at the near post.

How Milan missed the positional presence and vigilance of Paolo Maldini, whose aching knee forced his removal from central defence at half-time. Milan were leading 2-1 at that stage, the Brazilian zephyr that is Kaka having twice blown through United’s back-line after Cristiano Ronaldo’s early opener.

The second half of a mesmerising game belonged to United and particularly Rooney. The last time Rooney and United encountered Milan, they had bowed out of the European Cup meekly in 2005, with the rancorous cries of Roy Keane stinging their ears. United’s then captain delivered such a caustic critique on MUTV of the hunger levels of some of his team-mates that the programme was pulled. United’s desire could not be questioned last night. Even when Kaka was ripping them apart, even when the Italians were giving them a lesson in the art of possession, United kept the faith. Leading by example, Giggs was terrific, constantly driving his team forward, and going close with a couple of swerving free kicks.

Ronaldo was a lively outlet, always available, always keen to take on opponents. The game had begun with Nesta managing to block a shot from Rooney, but United still profited. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men sensed a vulnerability in the visitors’ ranks. Giggs bent in a corner from the right, and Ronaldo’s header bounced in off Dida. Such masters of European ring-craft, Milan absorbed this shock, and United’s flurries of combinations, and hit back on the counter.

After 22 minutes, Clarence Seedorf played the killer pass, a rapier delivery down the inside-left channel. Kaka was off and running, escaping from the slow-reacting Michael Carrick, outpacing Gabby Heinze and sliding the ball left-footed past Edwin van der Sar. Agonisingly for United, lightning struck twice. Kaka was imperious, elusive, a thrilling ambassador from the land that gave the world the Beautiful Game. United again failed to track Kaka’s movement.

No wonder Ferguson intends intensifying his pursuit of Owen Hargreaves this summer; United were crying out for a proper anchorman, for a mobile guard-dog to hound the life out of creators like Kaka before they build steam. Bayern Munich can put a few more million on Hargreaves’ fee. Given half a yard again after 37 minutes, Kaka got away from United once more. He beat Fletcher to the ball, and headed it past Heinze as the Argentine sought to close him down.

Heinze could still have dealt with the problem, but, inexplicably, Patrice Evra came flying in like a runaway TGV. Heinze was flattened, Fletcher was so shocked that he stopped to rubber-neck, and Kaka strolled on and rolled the ball past Van der Sar. Evra’s nightmare of a half continued when he crazily got himself cautioned for dissent, so removing Ferguson’s one remaining first-choice defender from the away leg. Madness. As hope ebbed, Rooney sprang to United’s rescue with his first goal just before the hour mark. Fletcher found Carrick, who touched the ball to Paul Scholes.

Hitherto subdued, Scholes scooped an inviting pass through to Rooney, who shot in off Dida’s body. This was classic fare, with both sides now going pell-mell for a third. Fletcher brought a superb save from Dida, but Kaka, in truth, could have scored. Kaka then conceded a free-kick 25 yards out, centrally placed, perfectly for Giggs. His left foot swept down in to the ball, sending it spinning over the wall, but fractionally wide.

Kaka gave Giggs an affectionate tap on the shoulder. Respect ruled. Now running on adrenalin, United went for Milan again. Nerves ate into the Italians’ defence and Maldini’s replacement, Daniele Bonera, was cautioned for bringing down Rooney. Again Giggs, the captain, assumed responsibility. Again that trusty left foot made contact, but Dida was equal to the challenge.

As Old Trafford screamed itself hoarse, United poured forward again, marching to fans’ incessant command of “attack, attack, attack’’. Rooney, sensationally, took them at their word. San Siro on May 2 should be some night.

[MiG16]

cmon Milan

oops!?? wrong thread again??

and I still think mucky is red

[muckypups]

You never know Mig.. but the give-away is the fact that were Red around he'd have been all over the thread after the 7-1.. and last night too.. I hope he's well and on a sabbatical somewhere.. look forward to seeing him back soon..

What ya' mean come on Milan....surely you want United to win...

[muckypups]

Tsk..tsk, not very sporting I must say...

Man City snub United switch plea

Manchester City have refused a request to move back their derby fixture against Manchester United next month.

United are scheduled to face City on Saturday 5 May at Eastlands, less than three days after the Champions League semi-final, second leg in Milan.

The Reds, who are also in the hunt for the Premiership title, asked to delay the derby game until Sunday 6 May.

However, City rejected the request and insist the game must go ahead as planned, with a 1245 (BST) kick-off.

Extra spice had been added to the Manchester derby when it appeared United would clinch the Premiership title with victory at Eastlands.

However, that scenario is now an outside prospect as United would have to beat Everton at Goodison this weekend, while Chelsea would need to lose their home game against Bolton.

That would leave Sir Alex Ferguson's side holding a six-point advantage, knowing a win over Stuart Pearce's City would effectively seal the championship.

United won this season's reverse fixture in December at Old Trafford 3-1, with goals from Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo.

[nev]

You never know Mig.. but the give-away is the fact that were Red around he'd have been all over the thread after the 7-1.. and last night too.. I hope he's well and on a sabbatical somewhere.. look forward to seeing him back soon..

hope red is ok i was only thinking the other day he went missing after the roma game hope he didnt do anything stupid remember his mate got stab in rome.

What ya' mean come on Milan....surely you want United to win...

[muckypups]

Exactly Nev, It's really strange that he's not been on-line since pre-kick off on the day of the Roma match.. It makes you think.. and worry a bit as well...

[marshbags]

From The Independent & The Independent on Sunday

26 April 2007 15:52

Home > Sport > Football > Premiership

Manchester United announce large increase in ticket prices

Manchester United fans are facing ticket price rises of up to 14 per cent next season.

While a range of measures have been introduced to cut the cost of concessionary tickets, meaning an adult with two children will pay less next season than he or she did this, full season ticket prices have risen sharply.

The biggest increases are in the lower tiers of the North and South Stands, which will rise from £665 to £722, while the most expensive season tickets in the stadium are the upper tier of both stands at £836.

In addition, all season ticket holders not currently a member of the club's automatic cup scheme, which forces fans to buy tickets for cup games, will be required to join.

United are sure to be condemned by fans' groups, who warned of hefty increases in ticket prices once Malcolm Glazer completed his controversial takeover two years ago. The chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association, Mark Longden, criticised the price hike, insisting there is "absolutely no justification" for it.

"Clearly, it flies in the face of the thinking all over the country, from Bolton to the Emirates [Arsenal's stadium]," Longden added. "They have all frozen prices and in some cases reduced them."

Unquote.

Spotted this article while reading the Independent, hope it,s not old news.

I cannot help but think of the families and all those who cannot hope to pay the new prices.

marshbags

[muckypups]

Thanks Marshbags, I hadn't seen that. Bl**d! typical.. as you so rightly say.. where to now the regular working fan and their families.

(Oddly enough as a member of the fair pricing campaign I received an e-mail from Arsenal yesterday saying that they would have no cost increase next season...at least some clubs are listening..)

[MiG16]

I received an e-mail from Arsenal yesterday saying that they would have no cost increase next season...at least some clubs are listening..)

[muckypups]

Well Mig, it hasn't escaped the attention of the "Red News" newsletter either:

Mark Longden IMUSA

"Clearly, it flies in the face of the thinking all over the country, from Bolton to the Emirates [Arsenal]. They have all frozen prices and in some cases reduced them. It's just slightly strange with the new money that is coming in from the TV deal - the club is getting £30 extra per seat across the board for the next three years. For every person that goes through the turnstile they could give them £30 back and not be any worse off, so surely there must be some scope for reducing prices or at least freezing them. There is absolutely no justification for putting prices up. If they are tying tickets to going in the automatic cup scheme, that is going to be a step too far for a lot of people at Old Trafford. Every time there is a price rise people don't renew but they seem to be able to find new people to fill those seats - but whether that happens this time remains to be seen."

Adult match ticket prices are:

Section 06/07 07/08

East Stand Lower 23 25

West Stand Lower 23 25

North Stand Tier 3 27 30

Family Stand 29 31

East Stand Upper 30 33

West Stand Upper 30 33

East Stand Tier 2 30 33

West Stand Tier 2 30 33

South West Lower 31 33

North East Quadrant 31 34

North West Quadrant 31 34

North East Quadrant Upper 35 38

North West Quadrant Upper 35 38

North Stand Tier 2 35 38

South Stand Lower Wing 35 38

North Stand Lower Wing 35 38

South Stand Lower Centre 35 40

North Stand Lower Centre 35 40

South Stand Upper Wing 37 42

North Stand Upper Wing 37 42

South Stand Upper Centre 39 44

North Stand Upper Centre 39 44

[muckypups]

Just spotted this.. excellent news..

'Manchester United will play a friendly soccer match in Malaysia on July 27, the Football Association of Malaysia said Wednesday.

The match is a government and private sector initiative in conjunction with "Visit Malaysia Year 2007," association deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

United will take on a yet to be determined Malaysian invitational team, selected by the government and made up of club and international Malaysian players.

Tengku Abdullah denied the match would undermine attendance at Asian Cup pool games to be staged in Malaysia – one of the tournament’s co–hosts – during July.

The likelihood of the match was originally raised in September last year after Manchester United signed a deal to support tourism in this Southeast Asian country.'

[nev]

Well Mig, it hasn't escaped the attention of the "Red News" newsletter either:

Mark Longden IMUSA

"Clearly, it flies in the face of the thinking all over the country, from Bolton to the Emirates [Arsenal]. They have all frozen prices and in some cases reduced them. It's just slightly strange with the new money that is coming in from the TV deal - the club is getting £30 extra per seat across the board for the next three years. For every person that goes through the turnstile they could give them £30 back and not be any worse off, so surely there must be some scope for reducing prices or at least freezing them. There is absolutely no justification for putting prices up. If they are tying tickets to going in the automatic cup scheme, that is going to be a step too far for a lot of people at Old Trafford. Every time there is a price rise people don't renew but they seem to be able to find new people to fill those seats - but whether that happens this time remains to be seen."

Adult match ticket prices are:

Section 06/07 07/08

East Stand Lower 23 25

West Stand Lower 23 25

North Stand Tier 3 27 30

Family Stand 29 31

East Stand Upper 30 33

West Stand Upper 30 33

East Stand Tier 2 30 33

West Stand Tier 2 30 33

South West Lower 31 33

North East Quadrant 31 34

North West Quadrant 31 34

North East Quadrant Upper 35 38

North West Quadrant Upper 35 38

North Stand Tier 2 35 38

South Stand Lower Wing 35 38

North Stand Lower Wing 35 38

South Stand Lower Centre 35 40

North Stand Lower Centre 35 40

South Stand Upper Wing 37 42

North Stand Upper Wing 37 42

South Stand Upper Centre 39 44

North Stand Upper Centre 39 44

it makes me very sad all these price increases young lads cannot go to watch the reds anymore and there dads cannot offord to take them along.

last night we had 24,000 for the youth cup final and the majority was young local lads all stood singingh together having a great time,pity these young un's cannot get in too the home games,unless they are the moston rats who jib in every game,lol.

point is most of us on here was very lucky to watch football when it was affordable to everyone in the 70's and 80's.

[nev]

i am buzzing what a come back at 2-0 i was thinking we have blown the title to score 4 in the 2nd half was imense.

5 point clear and i am off to thailand monday for 5 weeks and to watch the last 6 games and hopefully another treble.

thank you bolton

[muckypups]

Me too Nev, I thought we'd blown it, amazing resilience.. 30 mins left, 2-0 down.. Chelsea 2-1 up... and look what happened. It's not over yet but if we beat City.. and Arsenal get something from Chelsea.. then it's ours!!!!

From The Independent..:

Everton 2 Manchester Utd 4: A Turner for the worse as Everton bear United gifts

Rooney has inevitable say as Ferguson's men come from behind to snatch three points which leave them on brink of reclaiming crown

If Jose Mourinho really believes in conspiracy theories in English football, he could have a field day with this one. Manchester United, two-nil down, were thrown a lifeline by Everton's stand-in goalkeeper, then gifted three further goals, one of them knocked into his own net by the former United hero Phil Neville. Combined with Chelsea's second successive draw, it all means that United, with their vastly superior goal difference, need only four more points - at most - to become champions, even if they should lose at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday week.

The jubilant travelling support managed to hold back until the final whistle but could wait no longer. Taking the risk of tempting fate in the manner that their devil-may-care team do every week, they let rip with: "Champions! Champions!"

Sir Alex Ferguson, having raced on to the pitch in celebration, did not seem inclined to disagree. There is work to be done yet, but it would take defeat by Manchester City next Saturday to throw United off course now.

Everton appeared to be capable of doing that soon after half-time when Manuel Fernandes struck a second goal on the break to add to Alan Stubbs' early free-kick. United simply threw even more men forward, dominating the rest of the game and scoring four times in the final half-hour to total an extraordinary 122 goals in all competitions this season. The identity of three of the scorers was a surprise: John O'Shea offered hope with the first; Neville put through his own goal for the equaliser; and Chris Eagles, a substitute, wrapped things up in added time. The crucial goal, however, had an inevitable feel about it, Wayne Rooney shrugging off the boos from those who once idolised him to record his 23rd goal of the season.

Everton will be paid an extra £500,000 if United win the title, as part of Rooney's transfer fee. That will hardly compensate them for the misery of this defeat, which they will have regarded as self-inflicted, the first three goals all stemming from horrible defensive errors. With Tim Howard ineligible, Iain Turner from Stirling Albion was in goal and his mistake in dropping a corner at O'Shea's feet offered United the psychological boost they needed.

"That was a big turning point," said Everton's manager David Moyes. "That maybe gave them the slice of luck they needed. I don't think they'd have got back into the game without that."

That was highly debatable, for Everton were only ever in control of the match during the first quarter of an hour. "I can't explain the game," Ferguson said. "I didn't think we did badly but they had two great strikes and that can happen. I never thought we were out of it even at two-nil down. The most important thing is that we're having a go." United do not know any other way, which is why neutrals everywhere should welcome their impending coronation.

At times in the first half, however, they were second to the ball and did not get the best from a formation in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer worked the right flank and Rooney the left, with Ryan Giggs flitting behind Alan Smith down the middle. Whether it was the emotion generated by the death of Alan Ball - his children laid a wreath at the Gwladys Street end before kick-off - Everton's own pursuit of a Uefa Cup place or simple dislike of United, the home side were the more impressive early on. They had a goal to their name after 12 minutes, before Turner had even been tested.

The impressive Mikel Arteta was fouled 30 yards out and Stubbs hit a fierce free-kick past Edwin van der Sar with the help of Michael Carrick's unwitting deflection. Joleon Lescott had earlier clipped the bar with a header but with Andy Johnson missing, James Vaughan was often left isolated in attack.

Turner, making his Premiership debut, distinguished himself by saving at the near post from Rooney, who then headed Carrick's cross straight at him. Smith pulled a good chance wide and twice the outstanding Giggs' crosses from the left narrowly eluded a red shirt. It was all the more surprising, then, that Everton should score the next goal, five minutes into the second half. Fernandes - not the Portuguese winger who was expected to make an impact in this game - took Arteta's pass and veered away from Wes Brown to shoot into the top corner of the net.

Ferguson was ready to send on Cristiano Ronaldo, who had to be withdrawn from training on Friday, but Kieran Richardson appeared first to offer further attacking initiative. It took the first Evertonian howler to change the face of the game and the title standings. Turner dropped Giggs' inswinging corner at the feet of O'Shea, who gratefully poked it home to give his team new belief.

The force was suddenly with United. Giggs twice put Rooney through without success, but when Carrick took the next corner, Ronaldo headed down and Neville hacked into his own net. With 11 minutes to play, O'Shea put Rooney in for a better finish this time and, in added time, Rooney did the same for Eagles on his Premiership debut. "We want our trophy back," sang the visiting fans. It should be only a matter of time.

[muckypups]

I like this...

From The Guardian:

Daredevil United put their foot to the floor and make title rivals eat dust

Manchester United have a mathematical chance of throwing away the title but this does not look like a side that is about to get its sums wrong. It has been an epic battle but the question now is of when, rather than if, the glory is confirmed. The City of Manchester stadium on Saturday will do very nicely, although there would be something particularly sweet about reserving the big moment until the trip to Chelsea four days later. At the very latest the trophy should be in United's possession after West Ham's visit to Old Trafford on May 13 but Sir Alex Ferguson's victory jig suggests they may not have to wait that long.

His demeanour when the final whistle shrilled, and the news came through that Bolton had plundered a point at Stamford Bridge, was of a tipsy uncle heading for the dance floor at a wedding. This was the celebration Ferguson reserves exclusively for the special occasions: an odd hop, an uncoordinated clap of the hands, then a series of jerky twirls and running leaps, like a man with a wasp down his pants. The grand old master of English football, on the verge of his ninth championship in 14 years, forgets sometimes that he is now of OAP age but who can blame him when he is indulged with this near-unremitting excitement?

Even by United's extraordinary standards there has been something remarkable about the way they have flirted with danger and, at times on Saturday, teased us into thinking that their title challenge was on the point of collapsing like a house of cards. At two-nil down with half an hour to play, this was the moment when, to use Ferguson's own words, it was time "to show what Manchester United were all about". Four goals billowed Everton's net at the Park End and, when the comeback was complete, the arithmetic was simple: three points at Manchester City on Saturday, followed by anything other than a Chelsea victory at Arsenal on Sunday and the first piece of the Treble will be confirmed. The news for Chelsea is grim considering that City have not managed a league goal at home since New Year's Day. For City it is even grimmer.

United's goal difference is so immense they can even afford to drop five points in their remaining three games and it is here, undoubtedly, that the origins of this success story lie. When Chris Eagles, the young substitute, strode on to Wayne Rooney's pass and curled the ball beyond Everton's raw goalkeeper, Iain Turner, it was United's 82nd goal in 35 league games. That is 20 better than Chelsea and, already, a more impressive tally than in all but one of Ferguson's previous eight championships. United now have 20 different scorers and have amassed 40 goals in 20 cup ties. They have the runaway Player of the Year in Cristiano Ronaldo and eight players in the Professional Footballers' Association's representative XI. Nobody can say they do not deserve to win this league. Nobody, that is, apart from Jose Mourinho, a man whose default setting appears to be conspiracy theory.

Mourinho's apparent belief that he is being assailed from all sides by all manner of devious plots and dark scheming will not have been quelled by the tragi-comedy that attached itself to Phil Neville's own-goal and, to precipitate the comeback, Turner's butterfingers when dropping the ball in front of John O'Shea. The story was a familiar one as Rooney kicked into life, Ronaldo was brought off the bench, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, below, took control in midfield and United oozed such authority it was easy to wonder how they had managed to find themselves two down in the first place.

"Torture" is the word Ferguson uses. "Why do my players insist on taking us to the edge so very often?" But this is what United do: they make life difficult for themselves, offer their rivals hope, then react like no other team. Other teams would have lost their way once Manuel Fernandes had thumped the ball past Edwin van der Sar, doubling the lead from Alan Stubbs' deflected free-kick. But United never panicked. Even when they were struggling to find their rhythmic passing game, they had faith in one another to save themselves.

"The thing that always gives me hope is these players really want to win every game," said Ferguson. "They're all out to score, all the time. The momentum is with us now. When I see the camaraderie and the team spirit and the desire I can go to bed at night knowing I've got a good group of players."

David Moyes, the Everton manager, complained of his side's defending, and justifiably so. Tony Hibbert had to raise an apologetic arm after squandering possession in the build-up to Rooney making it 3-2 and Everton's was a very wonky offside trap when Eagles ran clear. Milan, it is safe to assume, will not be as generous when United take a 3-2 lead to San Siro for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. It is a match of utter unpredictability but that is the way United, champions-elect, like it.

[muckypups]

Fair play to Liverpool, well done. Now I just hope we join you in Athens...

This from The Guardian...:

Furious Ferguson goes on offensive against 'no principles' Mourinho

United manager accuses Chelsea counterpart over Ronaldo class jibe

Sir Alex Ferguson received a congratulatory text message from Jose Mourinho after Manchester United eliminated Roma to reach the Champions League semi-finals but it is unlikely his phone will be bleeping with the Chelsea manager's number if Milan go the same way at San Siro tonight. Or, indeed, that Ferguson would have sent Mourinho a note of condolence last night.

Thousands of May Day demonstrators were marching in Milan as Ferguson and his players arrived yesterday and the United manager continued the theme of protest by accusing Mourinho of having "no principles".

Relations between the two have drastically deteriorated as the season has entered its closing stages and, no longer willing to go through the pretence of niceties, Ferguson made it clear that diplomatic relations had been called off with a man he described on Friday as "having no respect for anyone but himself".

Ferguson chose his words carefully and with a measure of regret because at this stage of the Champions League he is aware that by becoming embroiled in a public war of words he is detracting from European football's premier club competition. However, the United manager said he felt compelled to speak out after Mourinho described Cristiano Ronaldo as having "no education" and questioned the newly crowned PFA player of the year's "difficult childhood" in Madeira.

"That is below the belt," Ferguson responded. "In fact, it is very below the belt. Maybe it's a tactic to unsettle the boy but, if so, he is barking up the wrong tree. To bring class into it is totally wrong."

Brought up in the Govan district of Glasgow, Ferguson has particularly taken umbrage to Mourinho's remarks because of his own working-class roots. "Coming from a poor background does not mean you are uneducated and it does not mean you have no principles," he said. "Ronaldo has principles and that is why he has not responded to this. The difference is that there are people from very poor backgrounds who have principles, whereas there are some people who are educated but have no principles at all - and that, without question, is the case here."

The latest bout of mud-throwing, in what is an increasingly acrimonious dispute, was an unfortunate subplot to what is to come at San Siro but, that apart, Ferguson was in a relaxed mood as he reflected on what promises to be an enthralling and unpredictable night. These are the games that send the adrenaline coursing through the 65-year-old's veins and, having finished with Mourinho, he was clearly relishing the sense of occasion as he reflected on United's 3-2 first-leg lead and the "massive performance" needed to join Liverpool in the final.

"Everyone has dreams," he said. "Every professional footballer, particularly at our club, wants to get to a European Cup final. I'm lucky: all my dreams have been fulfilled. I'm just happy to be manager of a club that is so entertaining. But I hope we can do it for the club's perspective because this club has not won enough trophies in Europe and we need to start doing that. We know what a difficult task it is but we are a team in form."

Wayne Rooney's injury-time winner at Old Trafford eight days ago means United are marginal favourites, despite their opponents' formidable home record, and their chances have been enhanced by the return from injury of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. Louis Saha, restricted to only four starts since the turn of the year, is also fit and expected to be on the bench in a 4-3-2-1 formation in which the emphasis, Ferguson said, would be to attack.

"We have to be realistic and accept that Milan are likely to score so the safety net is to get an away goal ourselves. I don't think sitting on the edge of the box will do us good. So we're going for goals. We have to play with a degree of caution but we will definitely be having a go. If we are going to lose, we will do it our way."

Acknowledging that Kaka, Milan's gifted Brazilian, was the Rossoneri's "obvious threat", Ferguson otherwise radiated confidence, as he always does before big matches. At one point in his press conference he seemed to be taking notes and he left behind a piece of paper containing the words in pencil: "Milan 1 Man Utd 2".

With Ronaldo and Rooney only eight goals behind the 53 accumulated by Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole in the 1998-99 treble-winning season, United certainly have the penetrative players to cause Milan problems, particularly as Paolo Maldini has a knee injury.

"I'll be in Athens for the final, whether it's with or without Manchester United," Ferguson reported, but it will not be a pleasurable experience unless United survive what Kaka et al can throw at them and he is "praying" Paul Scholes, who was suspended from the 1999 final and is one yellow card away from another ban, does not suffer the same fate again. "It would be a tragedy,' he said.

[muckypups]

From The Independent..:

Ferguson's have-a-go heroes to be let loose on Milan

Sir Alex Ferguson predicted he would sleep a contented sleep at Manchester United's opulent Melia Milano hotel last night. The assumption was not based on hearing that Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were desperate to face the Rossoneri before he retired to bed, nor on the United manager's debatable claim he has no football dreams left to fulfil. Rather it was a conviction, appropriate in a man knighted on the back of a European Cup, that his team would live or die by the sword as they seek a place in the Champions League final tonight.

"Your anxiety never changes about the big occasions," Ferguson confessed. "But I will go to bed knowing I have a team full of confidence, that will run until the last minute and that will definitely have a go." Not for the United manager talk of smothering tactics to protect a delicate 3-2 lead in Milan or targeting the weaknesses in Carlo Ancelotti's experienced but schizophrenic team. That is not Ferguson's style.

Ferguson's style is to attack, and it is a philosophy that makes United the most attractive English team left in the Champions League and which served the club so well when they last faced a semi-final in northern Italy - against Juventus en route to the ultimate victory in 1999.

"We are going to need the same courage we had that night, albeit our hand was forced against Juventus by conceding two early goals. Then it was hel_l or bust," he added. "They went for it that night. This time we have to play with a degree of caution, but we will definitely be having a go. If you are realistic then you know Milan will be huge favourites to score on their home ground, so you have to back yourself to score and have an attacking emphasis. Sitting on our box would not do me, the team or the fans any good. If we are going to win, we will have to do it our way, and if we lose, we will lose our way too."

Roy Keane is too busy setting the Stadium of Light ablaze these days to inspire United in Europe, as he did on that memorable night against the odds in Turin, but Ferguson believes the late comeback at Old Trafford last week confirmed that his latest creation have the talent and mentality to avoid the 1-0 reverse inflicted by Milan at San Siro two years ago.

The United manager insisted: "The job for us last time against Milan was to come from 1-0 down. We had to score and we had three or four great chances and didn't take them. Last week we had half a dozen great chances - Dida has made three great saves in the match from Michael Carrick, Cristiano Ronaldo and Darren Fletcher. But we hit the target. Two years ago we never hit the target. We are far more mature in front of goal now.

"When the tests came in Europe after the group stages - against Lille, Roma and Milan - we produced top-drawer performances. They have taken to the challenge very well."

While Ferguson talked up United's attacking threat, their capacity to curb Kaka and Filippo Inzaghi - scorer of Juventus' two goals at the Stadio Delle Alpi eight years ago - will also have a major bearing on their prospects of a third European Cup final appearance. The Scot vowed his side "would not make the same mistakes" as in the first leg, and to that end the possible return of Vidic and Ferdinand to a defence missing the suspended Patrice Evra would represent a sizeable bonus but a substantial risk.

The Serbian centre-half Vidic has not played since fracturing his collarbone against Blackburn on 31 March, though he has been training with this fixture in mind for 10 days and received clearance from a specialist on Monday to return to competitive action. Ferdinand has trained for three days having suffered groin strains in successive matches against Watford and Middlesbrough, the last only 10 days ago, and is therefore deemed more of a gamble against Milan.

"It is a matter of how much risk we put on the game and, to be frank, I have not come anywhere near that decision," insisted Ferguson. "I want to see them in training, speak to them and gauge their own confidence. I would be delighted to play the two of them but I don't know if that is possible. Milan would provide less of a physical test to Vidic than a Premiership game like Saturday's derby, for instance, and the player himself would be happy to play. We just have to see whether he's fit to do it."

Another concern is the prospect of Paul Scholes missing a second European Cup final through suspension should United win and their influential midfielder collect a second booking, as he did along with Keane against Juventus in 1999. The United manager said: "I don't think it will bother Paul too much, it may even be a good thing in terms of his concentration to be aware he must not go into sliding tackles. If he does that, he won't have a problem. He deserves to play in a final and we are praying for that. He deserves a place in Athens."

As for his own dreams at San Siro tonight, Ferguson was less effusive. "All my dreams have been fulfilled," he said. "I am just happy managing a club that is entertaining so much."

Ferguson defends Ronaldo's class 'principles'

Sir Alex Ferguson has been accused of forgetting his socialist principles in recent times but they rose to the surface in Milan yesterday when he pilloried Jose Mourinho for condemning the working-class background of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Manchester United manager had been reluctant to develop a feud with his Chelsea counterpart, despite calling for the football authorities to censure Mourinho on Friday. Yet a subsequent attack on Ronaldo by his Portuguese compatriot - in which the manager said: "Maybe difficult childhood, no education" was the reason the working-class winger from Madeira had entered the row over penalties against United - has touched a raw nerve with the former Govan shipyard worker.

"If his tactic is to unsettle the boy, then he is barking up the wrong tree, but it is below the belt to bring class into it," Ferguson said. "Just because you come from a poor background doesn't mean you have no principles. Ronaldo does have principles, and that is why he is not responding. Some people who are educated and not from a poor background have no principles and that is the case here."